2019 MINI EV Teased, Will Have Enclosed Grille And Asymmetrical Four-Spoke Wheels


MINI’s upcoming electric vehicle was recently spotted wearing less disguise and now the company has released the first teaser images of the hatchback.

Set to go on sale next year, the unnamed model will build on the success of the MINI E pilot program which kicked off a decade ago.  More importantly, the car represents the next stage of MINI’s electrification plans.

Since the car is still several months away from being unveiled, the company was tight-lipped on specifics and only released two sketches of components that will be used on the road-going model.  The first shows the car’s unique grille which is fully enclosed as electric vehicles don’t need an open grille like conventionally powered models. Despite the change, the grille retains its hexagonal shape and features a yellow accent bar to distinguish it from more mainstream variants.


The second sketch reveals the stylish four-spoke wheels which will become a hallmark of the MINI EV. They carryover from last year’s MINI Electric concept and resemble a plus sign located within a circle. Besides the eye-catching yellow outer ring, the wheels have an asymmetrical design with three open rectangles and a contrasting flat surface.

MINI was coy on additional information but the company’s design boss, Oliver Heilmer, said “These initial sketches for the fully electrified MINI outline our vision of authentic design creating a bridge between the history of the brand and its electric future.” The company also promised to transform electric mobility into an “emotionally engaging experience brimming with driving fun, style and individuality.”

There’s no word on performance specifications but the model could use a variation of the electric powertrain that debuted in the BMW iX3 concept. That particular model had a 70+ kWh battery pack and an electric motor that developed more than 270 PS (201 kW / 266 hp). Of course, if that were to happen, the MINI would have a significantly smaller battery due to its more modest dimensions.

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